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Forwarded from Housing Action Illinois

Take Action! Congress Making Decisions NOW on Housing in Economic Recovery Package

Congress is working NOW on the economic recovery package that could amount to $1 trillion. They need to hear that their constituents expect low income housing and homelessness prevention to be in that package.

The recession is causing millions of people to fall below the poverty line, putting hundreds of thousands of people at risk of becoming homeless. The solution must be more affordable housing.

Please use this toll free number, 877-210-5351, for the congressional switchboard and asked to be connected to the housing staffers for your Representative's and Senators' offices.

The Message

Tell them you support housing spending in the economic recovery package as proposed by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, including money for the National Housing Trust Fund, Housing Choice Vouchers, and to prevent homelessness.

Together, these proposals will assist 800,000 households hardest hit by the recession and create 201,800 jobs.

Thank you for taking the time to take advantage of this unique opportunity for us to make serious gains for those with the greatest need.

Background

Please call your U.S. Representative and Senators TODAY. Ask them to support an economic recovery package that includes:

• National Housing Trust Fund: Capitalize the new National Housing Trust Fund with $10 billion over two years to rehab or build 100,000 rental homes, using green standards, for households with the lowest incomes.

• Housing Choice Vouchers: Issue 400,000 new Housing Choice Vouchers (100,000 couple with National Housing Trust Fund grants) at a cost of $3.6 billion over two years to provide rent assistance for households with the lowest incomes.

• Prevent Homelessness: Provide $2 billion to the homelessness prevention component of the Emergency Shelter Grant Program to prevent 400,000 households from becoming homeless, or to rapidly re-house those who might lose their homes.

• Renters in Foreclosure: Include protections for renters in homes facing foreclosure (spelled out in NLIHC letters to Congress in link b elow).

• Public Housing: Provide $5 billion for the Public Housing Capital Fund over two years to upgrade, using green standards, public housing units that have not had adequate maintenance and modernization funds.

• HUD Multi-Family Housing: Provide $3 billion over two years to upgrade federally assisted multi-family housing using green standards.

• Gulf Coast Recovery: For Alabama's ongoing disaster relief efforts, provide at least $110 million through Community Development Block Grant Recovery Assistance.

To view NLIHC's letters to House and Senate leaders go to http://www.nlihc.org/template/page.cfm?id=204&.

Bob Palmer

Policy Director

Housing Action Illinois